MG4 EV vs Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric

The Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric costs £6,905 more than the MG MG4 EV. For that premium it adds 4 more seats (9 versus 5). The MG MG4 EV is not just cheaper - it also offers 67 miles more WLTP range, 54 kW faster peak rapid charging and 40 kW more power. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the MG MG4 EV comes out ahead overall.

The MG MG4 EV is £6,905 cheaper to buy. The MG MG4 EV is cheaper to charge, roughly £192 a year versus £264 for the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the MG MG4 EV comes out roughly £7,265 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.

EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 181 miles for the MG MG4 EV and 152 miles for the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The MG MG4 EV goes roughly 29 miles further between charging stops. A rapid charge to 80% takes around 25 minutes in the MG MG4 EV and 45 in the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric, so the MG MG4 EV loses less time at each stop. That makes the MG MG4 EV the stronger long-distance car.

The MG MG4 EV is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 84 mm narrower than the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 564 mm of total clearance for the MG MG4 EV and about 480 mm of total clearance for the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric. The MG MG4 EV also turns in a 1.9 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.

Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the MG MG4 EV and 84% for the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric. That gives the MG MG4 EV a modest edge in retained real-world range. The MG MG4 EV's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.